Category Archives: BEE Happenings

I know, back in April, December seemed so far away. Anything was possible! You were busy and you just wanted the urgency to go away, so you could put first things first.

Now that far away future is here. Have you accomplished all you wnated to accomplish? Have you added up all your business-purpose miles from your calendar?

If not, please take a deep breath, and stop berating yourself. Beating yourself up because things aren’t as they “should be” is a waste of energy. It’s like aol or norton antivirus, always running in background draining your computing power. I trust that you learned this behavior honestly, as a strategy for motivation. Thing is, it doesn’t work. Your parents, your teachers, did the best they could, but you’ve out grown

For the entire month of July, I’m supporting Houston’s newest collaborative work community: CoInside. For every person who signs up for Foundations of Sustainable Profits, I’m donating $50 to CoInside. And to sweeten the deal, I’m offering a $100 discount for the course. This way, my clients can build a solid basis for their financial future, and CoInside can support likeminded entrepreneurs who need a space to work and develop new ideas with others.

CoInside, located at 1919 Houston Avenue, believes that “independents do it differently.” CoInside’s fresh, creative workspace brings independent workers together to accomplish their goals. With four membership tiers, everyone can find a level of community that works for them and get a dedicated desk outside of their home where they can work independently. You can stop by for a $15 drop-in fee, or get a $30 introductory pass good for three co-working days.

This is a guest post from the delightfully curious Andrea Lewicki. We first met a year ago in a branding boot camp. I was immediately drawn to her quiet playfulness, and deep thoughtfulness. It has been such a pleasure to watch (and be a tiny part in) the evolution of her Lewicki Agency. This Spring she opened up a really great, simple, tool for all of us who work independently. Below she shares The CoWorking Collective, in her own words. Check it out & maybe we’ll be work buddies for the session that begins June 11th!

One of the best and worst things about being self-employed is not being part of an organization. On the bright side, you have the freedom to arrange your workday. You decide the mission and vision for the work you do. You are liberated from bureaucratic duty.

On the other side, you miss out on the embedded support structure an organization provides. You always have to take the lead, do the work and deliver in your team of one. It can feel like you’re working in isolation, and sometimes you feel like you’re the only person that cares about the work you do behind the scenes.

So much of what we do as self-employed people happens when nobody is watching. Sure, you might work at the coffee shop now and then, but the people hidden behind the other laptop screens don’t care if you’re working or goofing off on Twitter. It’s true that there are people who are interested in your work and can’t wait to see what you do next, but they’re not asking you what you’re going to accomplish between now and tomorrow. It doesn’t matter to them if you launch your big idea this week or two weeks from now. Maybe, like me, you’ve taken a online class aligned with what you’re trying to do. You get to connect with people in similar situations and there’s a support forum, but all of it comes with extra items for your to-do list. Depending on the class, you may end more behind than where you started!

And don’t get me started on all those time-management techniques. Most of them don’t work in the long run because you’re left being accountable to yourself. You and I both know how easy it is to justify your way out of that kind of accountability. You don’t need a lot of accountability — just enough to keep you showing up and doing the work.

For all of these reasons, I decided to create a simple support system to fill the void. It’s called The CoWorking Collective, and it’s a virtual CoWorking system that’s easy on your wallet, your time and your attention. I designed it to meet two specific criteria:

a low-overhead structure that balances freedom and support without weighing people down

a support system without teaching, coaching or obligation beyond the short daily check-in

Investment: $15 per work cycle (8 business days), 15 minutes a day (first + last days are 30 minutes)

That’s it. In return, you and your CoWorkers are partners in accountability. Check-ins happen via Skype or Google+ hangout. Partners are matched to optimize time zone compatibility (it’s a global enterprise). I provide tips on starting the conversation, getting to know each other and handling the check-ins. Once you’ve completed a work cycle, I’ll ask you how it went and what I can do to improve the program. The whole thing happens in 5 easy steps, shown in the diagram below.

It’s a fantastic tool for sprinting a project to completion. You can sign up for work cycles 12 weeks in advance, meaning you can plan support into your execution strategy!

It’s amazing what a difference those 15 minutes can make. One of the most remarkable things is that you begin to notice how much you’re really getting done. Chances are it’s a lot more than you think! Another thing that happens is you get better at breaking up large, overwhelming tasks into doable increments. You make progress. You get to the end without pulling out your hair!

The next work cycle begins on Monday, June 11th. Registration closes on Thursday night. You can find more information, including registration here. If you’re interested in the Collective but you’re not ready to schedule, you can also add yourself to the mailing list here.

There’s one other fringe benefit of joining us in the CoWorking Collective is the Brown Bag Lunch Series. I invite guests to share helpful information on topics relevant to independent business owners. The first guest is Christyna Lewis on Tuesday, June 12th! She’ll be talking about Financial Friday and how to make it a supportive part of running your business.

I’ve been doing that lately. Getting hung up on writing this just so. Worrying about how it sounds. Wondering if I am doing it right.

[sigh]

Worry doesn’t work. For anything. Ever*

“Just the reframe from “Ugh – boring and painful!” to “Nurturing and self-caring” is powerful.”

That’s what one of the participants in SquareOne: Collective Courage wrote after our first call. She was referring to her finances, but I can use the same shifting my frame of reference technique that I shared on Thursday for my blogging. Of course my from state is more “difficult and vulerable” but you get my meaning.

Thank goodness for SquareOne, Foundations of Sustainable Profits, and other clients! I can get discouraged with the mechanics of running a business online sometimes, AND shepherding sweet visionaries, creatives, and healers through their growth in perspective and skills is a pure JOY. Those A-HA moments fill my “motivation bank” account.

The new program has been hopping. In addition to the “”Just the reframe from “Ugh – boring and painful!” to “Nurturing and self-caring” is powerful.”" participants have said ”I absolutely loved the instruction “Commit to be peaceful.” and “Thanks for everything, Christyna! I really enjoy this series so far!”

I’m leaving the doors open for SquareOne: Collective Courage until April 11th. You are cordially invited to join us and take your next steps towards ease and peace in your financial life.

If you are reading this on the 12th or later, you have 2 options: 1) SquareOne: You & Me or 2) Join the mailing list to find out when SquareOne: Collective Courage will be offered again. **

In the meantime, I’ll be practicing “practice makes better” and blogging with more regularity again.
Talk with you soon!

*said a wise old owl whom I adore (size M, please). ;-)
**probably this summer, but you won’t know for sure, unless you get The Buzz.
***Thanks Dad for that little saying! It’s a worry crusher.

I talk about it all the time, but what is it really? Financial Friday is a set (limited!) time each week for you to get in touch with your money. It is one of the first positive habits I help my Foundations of Sustainable Profits clients establish AND it takes the *umph* away from a whole lot of your financial worries.

Financial Friday is a commitment you make to spend 20-40 minutes getting present to what is true, right now, in your finances. If you are creative entrepreneur- it’s your time to ask “Who do need to invoice?” “What invoices have I sent and not heard back on?” “Can I afford to pay that bill this week?”. (It’s about cash flow planning- but I won’t use that term because I can hear your shoulders tensing up, all the way from here). The answers to these simple questions will lead you to action. Bill that client. Send the gentle invoice reminder. Pay your cell phone bill on time!

Do you see how these actions will make your life easier? your first of the month payroll more smooth?

Your guilt for going out to eat so often may even disappear and you know that meals eaten without guilt just taste better (you never know, that was the experience of one of my photographer clients).

If you know how much money you have, what bills are due, what your long-term priorities are, then you can naturally and easily make good choices with the resources that you do have, right now.

If you don’t know where to start, or just don’t want to do it by yourself, I would be honored to support you. Schedule yourself a 40 Minute Focus or jump in on our first of the month #FinFriday chat on Twitter. I’ve moved the monthly chat to 12-1pm Central, so a broader range of people can participate.

Make this one commitment to yourself, have a sacred meeting with your checkbook and financial life. Put it on the calendar as an important, not to be missed, crucial business meeting. Commit to your own Financial Friday time, and you will soon be amazed at how productive 20 minutes with your money can be.

Use the comments section to make your commitment pubic and share your experiences with your fellow readers. We can all learn from each other.

Can I just level with you? Yesterday was a crumby day. My aunt had a heart attack (she’s recovering in ICU. The emergency surgery went well). My husband was in a car accident (He’s fine and we have full insurance on the car). “All’s well that end’s well”, but boy-am I present now! Life is precious, every moment of it. Don’t waste even one day!

I help creative people; people who have a vision to make the world more beautiful, more humane, more compassionate. I can’t stand the thought of you, my right people, spending one more day in pain around your finances. I take a stand that you can heal your relationship to money.

I know how quickly your vision moves forward when all the aspects of your life are in alignment and supportive of that vision. In 2011, I’ve seen two clients nearly double their income. Two other clients will be ready to file their 2011 taxes on Jan 15th. All the customary worry and buzz about tax prep? Gone! This year they’ll be spending that energydoing what they love- serving their clients and enjoying their relationships.

Let’s have more of that! More people lit up- letting their finances be just a tool in their life of creation- like a camera, or a glue gun.

So I am walking my talk. Beginning today, I am standing taller and serving in a more powerful way than you’ve seen before.

I’ve made a page of all my current programs withspecial pricing so you can get started NOW.

I am working with a marketing coach and a creativity expert to put out more and more targeted products- to serve you more effectively and more efficiently. We’re beginning with “How to Switch Banks Without a Bunch of Fees and Heartache”.

Every other month I am doing a workshop at Homespun Houston.

and many more…

Check out the page I’ve made just for you. Let your light shine. Tell someone you love them today, just because.

Let’s ring in the New Year with new clarity and new confidence! Let 2012 be the year you really step out and fulfill your vision!

I’ve finally given up hiding my lack of skill and have HIRED a sweet, loving, caring, not-at-all-scary person who is GREAT at teaching creative types like me how to use money like I use my power tools.” -Cheryl K.

Get your spot today. Use it any time in the first half of 2012. The sooner you are confident, and making clear progress with your finances the better! I believe in your ability, all you need is confidence and skill-